Stock Up, Stock Down for Philadelphia Phillies' Top 10 Prospects for Week 8

The Philadelphia Phillies turned to their Triple-A affiliate four times this past week for major league replacements. However, none of the players selected are currently ranked as top 10 prospects.

Was this because the current top prospects are progressing nicely but just need more seasoning, or because a lack of early season success is causing them to fall short of expectations?

A player such as Darin Ruf could have earned a promotion once Chase Utley was placed on the disabled list, especially with a DH needed for the next two games. Instead, a slump led to the Phillies eventually promoting Michael Martinez.

Additionally, when Roy Halladay’s spot in the rotation came up, it was Tyler Cloyd who was promoted again rather than Adam Morgan or Ethan Martin.

All of these players have plenty of time to continue improving and reach the major leagues, possibly at some point this season. But they have also seen at least one, if not two or three, opportunities come and go for a major league call-up.

Meanwhile, how did the rest of the Phillies top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America, fare this past week?

Let’s take a look at whose stock is up and whose is down following Week 8.

Notable Performances

The following players are not currently considered top 10 prospects for the Phillies, but had notable performances this past week nonetheless:

Triple-A (Lehigh Valley): Josh Fields 3B

Josh Fields, 30, has played 217 career major league games, but is currently playing for the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate. This past week, Fields had 11 hits in 24 at-bats, including four straight games in which he had at least two hits. Although his home run and RBI totals are low, Fields is batting .310 on the season, including a .306 average in May.

Double-A (Reading): Cameron Rupp C

Cameron Rupp had seven hits in 19 at-bats this past week, two of which were home runs. The catcher also drove in five runs, helping him to nearly double his RBI total from April this month. Rupp is still struggling in a limited number of at-bats against left-handed pitchers, but has gotten his batting average up to .240 in 34 games, after hitting .207 in April.

High-A (Clearwater): Cameron Perkins OF

Maikel Franco may be the Phillies High-A ball player who is currently ranked as a top 10 prospect, but Cameron Perkins is also having a tremendous season so far. In 28 at-bats this past week, Perkins had nine hits, giving him a .353 average on the season. Through 47 games, Perkins has the highest batting average in the Florida State League.

Low-A (Lakewood): Yoel Mecias, LHP

Yoel Mecias, 19, struck out seven while walking just one in his start this past week, in which he took a no-decision despite giving up just one earned run. Mecias now has 43 strikeouts to 18 walks on the season, as well as a 3.99 ERA. In six of his nine starts, Mecias has allowed one earned run or less, and his strikeout total ranks just outside the top 10 in the South Atlantic League.

6. Ethan Martin, SP

Ethan Martin continues to improve at Triple-A, and has now won four consecutive starts.

After struggling with his command earlier in the season, Martin has bounced back to put himself on pace for a final walk total similar to the one he had last season.

This total would still be one of the higher totals in the International League, but it should also be lower than the total he would’ve had if he kept up his pace from April.

In 22.1 innings in April, Martin walked 20 batters, including 14 towards the end of the month. In 25 innings in May, he has walked just seven.

His start this past week saw him strike out four batters in six innings while walking two and allowing two earned runs.

With Adam Morgan struggling and battling soreness, Martin could now be the front-runner for a promotion the next time a replacement is needed in the major league rotation, as Bob Brookover wrote on Philly.com.

A few weeks ago it seemed as if Martin may be overmatched at Triple-A. Now, he may be proving that he is ready for one more promotion.

4. Jonathan Pettibone, SP

Jonathan Pettibone may soon lose his prospect status, as he’s pitched nearly 50 innings in the major leagues.

This past week, Pettibone set a career high for strikeouts with six while taking a no-decision in an eventual Phillies win.

While Pettibone is 3-0 on the season the Phillies have won six of his seven starts.

John Lannan may be returning from the disabled list in the next month, but with Roy Halladay out until at least August, a spot in the rotation should remain for Pettibone as long as he can hold onto it.

It’s debatable whether luck or pure pitching talent has gotten him out of certain jams this season but, regardless, so far so good.

3. Tommy Joseph, C

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Stats: 21 games, .209 BA, 3 HR, 14 RBI, .264 OBP

Stock: Even

Tommy Joseph continues to miss time while on the disabled list. He has not played since May 4 at Triple-A.

Due to his early play, Joseph was not in line for a call-up when Carlos Ruiz was placed on the disabled list, but if Joseph continues to struggle once he is healthy, the Phillies will have a difficult decision to make this offseason.

It’s also worth mentioning that, although there has been no indication that Joseph’s spot as catcher of the future is in jeopardy, Cameron Rupp is now batting .270 at Double-A this month, and has hit seven home runs on the season.

2. Roman Quinn, SS

Roman Quinn had a tremendous week in the South Atlantic League, and is now batting .314 in May.

The shortstop had 10 hits in 27 at-bats, and began the week with his fourth home run. Quinn also had five stolen bases and drew six walks to bring his OBP to .343 on the season, and .438 in his last 10 games.

Quinn is one of just five players with more than 20 stolen bases in the South Atlantic League this season.

A higher batting average is still preferred, but seeing just eight strikeouts in his last 40 at-bats, and a .314 average in May after batting .202 in April, should make for great sights for the Phillies as they evaluate Quinn.